Team Cherwell triathletes bonding and training

Posted: Friday April 25, 2008

32 triathletes from the triathlon club Team Cherwell from Oxfordshire, UK are here at Club La Santa for one week of training. The club exists for 10 years already and they have been doing Ironman races since the beginning. They have a junior section as well, with 30 members there. So the ages differ from 17-64! This year 10 members, of the 100 members (with juniors) Team Cherwell has, are going to participate in the Ironman Lanzarote and 40 supporters will come with them to experience the amazing atmosphere in Lanzarote that day.

The goals for their stay here are: – Introducing the island to the triathletes who are doing the Ironman Lanzarote for the first time – Club bonding session – Promote the club

It is the 2nd year that they are here for a training camp at Club La Santa. They have a structured week of training here. They do a lot of bike rides, which vary from 20 K to Ironman distances. Usually they swim 1 -1,5 hours a day in the morning and do a bike ride from 2 hours until 7 hours. They have actually hired a professional swim coach to train them during their stay and there are 6 triathlon qualified coaches among the group. The coaching and talking about what they are doing etc is an important aspect for them.

Team Cherwell doesn’t have professional triathletes, but most do great in their age group.One of the women in the group became 5th in the World Triathlon Championships in Hamburg last year. And 9 are going to participate in the World Age Group Champions League in Vancouver. Most members do 1 or 2 Ironman a year. During triathlons the athletes stick together and help each other out, which is very social wise!

Why Club La Santa?
“It is the whole atmosphere. Club La Santa is a quality resort and has quality training facilities. The food is nice, the swimming pool and the biking are fantastic.”

Why triathlon? – social as a club – contagious – way of life

Team Cherwell described: – Sociable – Fun – Play hard and work hard

All the members really enjoyed their week here at Club La Santa. They really pushed up their levels and their abilities. Sunday was the longest training day for the triathletes and it is said that at night in the bar some of them almost fell asleep in their beers!